Name: Brandkits
Price range: $

Job Description

We’re hiring! Head Chef and Café Operations Manager

The Platform Café is at the heart of our community in Loughborough Junction - a small, welcoming space where people come together over great coffee and homemade, seasonal vegetarian food. We’re looking for a passionate Head Chef & Café Operations Manager to lead our kitchen and day-to-day café operations, bringing both creativity and organisation to this unique role.

This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape a space that’s safe, inclusive, and accessible to everyone, while supporting LJAG’s mission to strengthen community connection. You’ll lead a friendly, dedicated team, create tasty menus that reflect our diverse neighbourhood, and help ensure the café thrives both as a social hub and sustainable enterprise.

If you love great food, enjoy working with people, and want to make a positive impact locally, we’d love to hear from you.

Purpose of the role

A single senior leadership role combining food delivery with day-to-day café operations, compliance, and team management.

The Head Chef and Café Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of Platform Café, a small community café seating up to 25 people and offering a range of barista speciality coffees and a high-quality vegetarian hot and cold menu, combining high-quality food delivery with strong operational management, compliance, and income generation. The role supports LJAG’s charitable mission by ensuring the café operates safely, sustainably, and as a welcoming, inclusive community space.

Key responsibilities – Management and operations

Overall responsibility for daily café operations, rotas, and staffing
Implementation and oversight of food safety, allergens, and health and safety systems
Management of suppliers, stock control, ordering, and waste reduction
Financial oversight including daily takings, margins, and cost control
Ensuring the café always remains inspection-ready
Responsibility for the safe use, routine care, and basic maintenance of all café and kitchen equipment, including identifying faults, arranging repairs, and liaising with contractors or suppliers to minimise downtime and ensure safe operation

Key responsibilities – Kitchen and food

Lead food preparation and menu delivery
Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and consistency
Always ensure safe food handling and allergen management
Support menu development aligned with community needs and income generation

Safeguarding, compliance, and governance

Operate in line with LJAG safeguarding policies and procedures
Ensure compliance with charity governance, data protection, and employment practices
Maintain accurate records and contribute to audits and inspections

Income generation and sustainability

Support growth of café income through menu planning, events, and partnerships
Balance commercial performance with community access and affordability
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs
Identify and support catering opportunities, including events and external bookings, and contribute to the promotion and marketing of the café and catering offer in collaboration with LJAG colleagues
Ensure the café’s facilities, equipment, and offer are well maintained, promoted, and used effectively to support sustainable income generation

Equality, diversity, and inclusion in service delivery

Actively consider equality, diversity, and inclusion in day-to-day decision making, alongside commercial sustainability
Use the café space in ways that support community connection, inclusion, and wellbeing
Create a welcoming, respectful, and accessible café environment for all customers, volunteers, and partners
Support affordable pricing, concessions, and community access in line with LJAG’s charitable purpose
Ensure menus are inclusive and responsive to the cultural, dietary, and allergen needs of Lambeth’s diverse communities

Job Requirements

A demonstrable understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity, and inclusion in both service delivery and people management, with awareness of and respect for the diverse communities of Lambeth
Level 3 Food Safety or equivalent qualification
Experience managing a commercial or community food operation
Strong people management and organisational skills
Clear understanding of food safety, allergens, and compliance
A good sense of humour and the ability to remain positive, approachable, and calm in a busy community café environment